The American website Axios quoted a senior Israeli official as saying that the main sticking point in the indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel is the issue of whether the prisoner exchange deal will lead to the end of the war on the Gaza Strip.
Hamas insists on obtaining a clear commitment that implementing the entire exchange deal would end the war, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused to agree to this condition, according to the American website.
The Israeli official said, “The mediators are focusing on trying to find a formula that the two sides can agree on, but no breakthrough has been achieved in this regard.”
He added, “It does not look good. There is no such formula at the present time, and it does not seem that we are getting closer,” as he put it.
In the same context, Axios quoted two Israeli officials and an informed source that Qatar, Egypt and the United States are working to prevent the collapse of indirect talks between Hamas and Israel regarding the exchange deal.
Informed diplomatic sources revealed that CIA Director William Burns extended his stay in the Qatari capital throughout Monday, in an attempt to save the faltering negotiations between Hamas and Israel.
Sources told Tel Aviv Tribune that the movement’s delegation left Cairo yesterday, Sunday, heading to Doha after two days of negotiations, where the movement’s political leadership will meet today in the Qatari capital to discuss the results of the Cairo talks.
The day before yesterday, Saturday, a delegation from the Hamas movement and Qatari and American officials arrived in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, to participate in ceasefire negotiations and the exchange of prisoners. In return, Israel refused to send its delegation.
Accusations against Netanyahu
This comes at a time when pressure is increasing from inside and outside Israel on Netanyahu to conclude a deal with Hamas, which he insists on rejecting, stressing also his insistence on continuing the war and invading Rafah.
Israeli media, in addition to Israeli politicians, security leaders, and opposition representatives in the Knesset, accused Netanyahu of trying to thwart the prisoner exchange deal with Hamas for personal gain.
Axios believes that the deal could create a serious political problem for Netanyahu because two of his main coalition partners – the ultra-nationalist ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir – have threatened to leave the government if the deal is approved.
Without them, Netanyahu will be politically exposed, his coalition will collapse, and early elections will likely be called.
According to recent opinion polls, Netanyahu is likely to be defeated if the elections are held today, according to the American website.
